One of the questions I always get asked is “How did you find a job in Spain?” A lot of people would love to work in Spain, and if you're from Europe, it’s a little easier to do so, but what if you’re from the US? And also, what type of work is available for you once you get here?
Here are a few examples of some of the most common forms of employment for most expats around the world, and Spain is no exception.
Teach English Privatley
It may seem a little tedious, but this is a good way to find work. There are tons of people in Spain who want to improve their English. Right now might be a tough time because of the crisis, but there are always lots of listings for people who want English classes online. Check out sites like Loquo and Mis Clases Particulares. Post flyers in your neighbourhood, and let everyone know you’re an English teacher.
The main issue with private classes is that students can be flaky. Flaky students = no money for you. I once had a girl who wanted 8 hours of class a week. The first week, she came every day right on time, so I blocked out my schedule. But she turned out to be absolutely crazy and didn’t show up at all for classes…so I missed out on a big chunk of money I’d been expecting to use for rent and groceries.
Other common problems you might run into are struggling to fill your schedule, and spending a lot of time travelling and preparing classes.
Look for language academies, bars and restaurants, or temporary summer programs for under-the-table jobs.
Amelie from Amelie Says Hola reminded me that a TEFL or CELTA certification may help if you want to work at a language academy.
Work for an au pair/nanny program or babysit
There are lots of websites that have listings for families abroad who want an English-speaking au pair – just a quick Google search for “au pair jobs Spain” gives you tons of results. I have zero personal experience with this, so I can’t recommend any reputable sites myself. But I do have a friend in Barcelona who successfully worked as an au pair, so it can be a good option. Your family may give you free food and housing.
The downsides with this job are not having much time away from work, and having to deal with somebody else’s kids!
You can also try babysitting for families in your city. I got offered a job to pick up the kids from school at lunchtime, give them their lunch, and take them back to school (yeah, that school had a 2-hour break in the middle of the day). A lot of families like their kids having an English-speaking babysitter.
Look for freelance work
A lot of the time, freelance jobs are place-flexible, so if you can find somebody to write for you’re good to go. This requires a bit of leg-work and self-discipline, but it can be a nice way to make a chunk of cash.
Work online
Like freelance writing, this one is place-flexible. There are tons of jobs you can do remotely, so see if you can find a job that’s online. I work for a website, and I’ve had a couple of friends work for me from different locations and get paid via PayPal. If you can find one of these jobs, it’s a great way to get a solid stream of money. Again, you do have to be lucky to find one of these, but it does happen.
It might be hard to make all your money with just private English classes, but combine that with some freelance writing and you’re good to go. Talk to everyone you know about your work situation, and something should turn up.
Finding jobs without the paperwork in Spain can be frustrating, but I know lots of people who have made it work. It’s tough, but with some hard work and a bit of luck you can pull it off.
Also, here’s some more general info about finding work in Spain:
- How to Live & Work in Spain -holayessica.com/2012/06/12/how-to-live-work-in-spain/#
- Hope this helps and if you have any tips to share, do let me know!